Thousands of children climbed into real excavators, dozers and more last weekend at the Clark County Fairgrounds, taking the wheel at Dozer Day, a two-day community event hosted by the Nutter Family Foundation.
Dozer Day, held Saturday, Oct. 4 and Sunday, Oct. 5, turned heavy machinery into a hands-on classroom where kids learn how construction builds communities and careers. The event brings in around 15,000 people every year, with proceeds benefiting local organizations.
“Dozer Day is all about putting the kids in the driver's seat and letting them drive, you know, hoping that someday they're going to be future operators,” Renee Nutter, president of the Nutter Family Foundation, said.
The weekend followed Friday’s student career fair, which brought in more than 1,000 students to explore trade opportunities. Nutter recalled one young visitor’s reaction after operating an excavator.
“She got out of that excavator and she yells, ‘That is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life,’” Nutter said. “She made my year.”
Among the attractions were massive dozers and excavators that children operated under close supervision at the arena’s sandpit, which drew a crowd all weekend.
This year’s Dozer Day also featured community exhibits from Clark Public Utilities, Waste Connections and the Washington state Department of Transportation. Kids also enjoyed a sprawling sand pit and a tire crawl by Les Schwab.
Jobs in the construction trade are in high demand, yet many positions remain unfilled. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 539,500 construction equipment operators currently work in the United States, with employment expected to grow 4% over the next decade. Despite that growth, the industry faces a shortage of qualified operators — a gap events like Dozer Day aim to close. Nutter said she’s optimistic that Dozer Day will continue sparking interest in trade careers.
“Most of the people in the construction industry are hands-on learners,” Nutter said, noting there are few opportunities for youth to learn about the industry. “It just means you’re good in other areas, and that’s what this is all about.”
Her daughter, Sammi Nutter Charlton, read from her book Dozer Day Paves the Way, which was shared with more than 3,000 first graders across Southwest Washington earlier this year. The story highlights how hands-on learning can inspire future builders. Dozer Dan, the event’s mascot, was popular among the kids.
The Nutter Family Foundation, which took over the event nearly two decades ago from the Parks Foundation, has since donated more than $2.5 million back to community programs.
“For every nonprofit group that brings at least 10 volunteers, we guarantee $150 per child for the weekend directly to that nonprofit group,” Nutter said. “Not only is it about the money, but we’re introducing them to the trades.”
As the event marks nearly 20 years under the Nutter Foundation’s leadership, Nutter said its impact continues to grow.
“I’m so fortunate for what we have,” she said. “It’s just beautiful to see everybody so happy and having such a good time.”
